Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minutePrinter ink costs so much because a cartridge’s sticker price is only part of what you pay: the printer’s rated page yield, the way you print, and ink used for setup and maintenance all affect how far a supply goes. A low-priced printer can also have higher ongoing supply costs. Compare the printer and its supplies together, using your expected print volume—not the cartridge price or printer price alone.
Why does printer ink seem so expensive?
There is no single price that explains ink costs. The amount you spend over time depends on the printer’s purchase price, the cost and yield of compatible supplies, and how much ink your printer uses to prepare and maintain itself. Consumer Reports has highlighted substantial differences between tested models, including historical model-specific annual ink-cost estimates of about $27 for one printer and about $280 for another; these are not current market averages. Consumer Reports’ ink-cost coverage discusses those differences.
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Cartridge price alone can also conceal how much ink or how many pages a buyer gets. In historical examples, Consumer Reports listed an HP 64XL at $42 for 0.45 ounce of ink and an HP 952XL at $44 for 2.86 ounces. Those figures are examples from its coverage, not current prices or a complete comparison across brands. Consumer Reports’ cartridge examples illustrate why comparing only the price tag can mislead.
It is tempting to explain the economics as a universal model in which printers are sold at a loss and ink makes up the difference. The available figures do not establish that claim, a universal manufacturer profit margin, or the cost of producing each cartridge. What shoppers can compare directly is the printer’s upfront price and the ongoing cost of supplies.
#1 Best Overall
- Automatic
- These cartridges work with: HP OfficeJet Pro 8020, 8020e, 8025, 8028, 8030e, 8035
- Cartridge yield (approx.): 825 pages black, 315 pages per color
- Up to 2x more prints with Original HP Ink vs. non-Original HP Ink
- 82% of HP ink cartridges are manufactured with recycled plastic
What does a cartridge’s page yield tell you?
A cartridge’s rated yield estimates how many pages it can print under a defined test; it is not a guarantee that every home or office will get that number. HP’s guidance says yield results can vary with test documents, print modes, end-of-life rules, sample sizes, time between jobs, and environmental conditions. Continuous testing also does not count maintenance ink used between print jobs. HP’s explanation of inkjet yield testing describes these limitations.
For a first-pass comparison, divide the supply price by its stated page yield:
Rank #2
- HP Ink Cartridges are engineered to work with HP printers to provide consistent quality, reliability and value
- Works with these HP Printers: DeskJet 1255, 2710e, 2720e, 2721e, 2722, 2722e, 2723e, 2724, 2725, 2732, 2742e, 2752e, 2755, 2755e, 4110e, 4120e, 4121e, 4122e, 4123e, 4130e, 4132e, 4152e, 4155e, 4158e; DeskJet Plus 4122, 4132, 4155
- Works with these HP Printers: ENVY 6010e, 6020e, 6022e, 6030e, 6032e, 6034e, 6050e, 6052e, 6055, 6055e, 6075, 6075e, 6420e, 6422e, 6430e, 6432e, 6450e, 6452e, 6455e, 6458e, 6475e; ENVY Pro 6455, 6458, 6475
- Cartridge yield (approx.): 120 pages
- Trusted HP Printer Ink Cartridges for every printing need: Perfect for everyday home, office, and small business printing needs — choose HP 67 Ink Cartridges for reliable printing
Estimated supply cost per rated page = supply price ÷ stated page yield.
This is a baseline, not a precise forecast of your household’s cost. It excludes the printer itself and does not account for all setup or maintenance ink. Compare compatible supplies for the same printer and check current local prices; yields and prices vary by model and can change.
Rank #3
- HP Ink Cartridges are engineered to work with HP printers to provide consistent quality, reliability and value
- Works with these HP Printers: DeskJet 1255, 2710e, 2720e, 2721e, 2722, 2722e, 2723e, 2724, 2725, 2732, 2742e, 2752e, 2755, 2755e, 4110e, 4120e, 4121e, 4122e, 4123e, 4130e, 4132e, 4152e, 4155e, 4158e; DeskJet Plus 4122, 4132, 4155
- Works with these HP Printers: ENVY 6010e, 6020e, 6022e, 6030e, 6032e, 6034e, 6050e, 6052e, 6055, 6055e, 6075, 6075e, 6420e, 6422e, 6430e, 6432e, 6450e, 6452e, 6455e, 6458e, 6475e; ENVY Pro 6455, 6458, 6475
- Cartridge yield (approx.): 240 pages
- Trusted HP Printer Ink Cartridges for every printing need: Perfect for everyday home, office, and small business printing needs — choose HP 67XL Ink Cartridges for reliable printing
Ink volume alone is not a reliable substitute for yield. HP recommends comparing page yield because different printer systems can produce different page counts from similar quantities of ink. Its guidance is a manufacturer’s account of its own systems and methods, rather than an independent cross-brand test. HP’s comparison of selected Smart Tank and cartridge printers provides brand- and model-specific examples, not a market-wide price-per-page figure.
Why can actual yield be lower than the rated yield?
Ink does not go only onto the page. HP says inkjet printers use some ink when a cartridge is installed and for maintenance after periods without use, helping ink flow and keeping nozzles clear. Printers differ in how they handle these tasks, and the amount used depends in part on the device and use pattern. HP’s printing-efficiency explanation describes this mechanism.
Rank #4
- Compatible with TS3520/3522, TR4720/4722, TS3720/3722 inkjet printers.
- Value pack of 2 cartridges: PG-275 Black ink yields up to 100 pages, CL-276 color ink yields up to 100 pages.
- Canon Genuine Inks provide peak performance that is specifically designed for compatible Canon printers. The PG black ink cartridge produces crisp, sharp black text for your documents and the CL color cartridge produces accurate impressive color photos.
- Canon's FINE (Full-photolithography Inkjet Nozzle Engineering) technology utilizes 6,000 or more nozzles inside the print heads to provide greater efficiency, higher print precision and reliable accuracy in your photos and documents.
- Don’t be fooled by imposters - look for the Canon logo on all ink packaging to ensure you’re buying Genuine Canon Ink for outstanding quality and performance you can rely on.
Intermittent printing can make a simple page-yield calculation particularly hard to interpret because maintenance between jobs is not captured by continuous yield testing. Print coverage matters too: a page of plain text and an image-heavy color page do not use supplies in the same way. Consumer Reports has reported that some tested printers used substantial ink in maintenance cycles, but its test-specific findings should not be treated as a universal percentage for all printers. Its coverage of printer ink costs offers consumer context for these differences.
HP’s page reproduces a statement from David R. Spencer, president of SpencerLab Digital Color Laboratory, about a study commissioned by HP in 2005: “Printing efficiency significantly impacts the normal user’s page yields and actual printing costs. Our testing revealed striking differences in how efficiently different inkjet printers performed and the effect this had on yields during typical usage.” The quote concerns that historical HP-commissioned study; it is not a current independent estimate for the whole printer market. HP’s article on printing efficiency provides the attribution and context.
Best Value
- Higher Page Yield: Up to 750 pages for hp ink 63 black, 450 pages for hp 63 ink tri-color (at 5% coverage of A4 paper)
- Package Includes: 1 x 63XL black ink cartridge, 1 x 63XL color ink cartridge, 1 x User Guide
- Compatible for HP OfficeJet 3830, 3831, 3832, 3833, 3834, 3836, 4650, 4652, 4654, 4655, 4656, 4657, 4658, 5255, 5200, 5220, 5222, 5230, 5232, 5252, 5258, 5260, 5264, 5212
- Compatible for HP Envy 4520, 4510, 4511, 4512, 4513, 4516, 4517, 4521, 4522, 4523, 4524, 4525, 4526, 4527, 4528
- Compatible for HP DeskJet 1110, 1111, 1112, 1113, 1114, 2130, 2131, 2132, 2133, 2134, 2136, 2137, 2138, 3630, 3631, 3632, 3633, 3634, 3635, 3636, 3637, 3638, 3639, 3640
Do refillable ink-tank printers save money?
Ink-tank printers use refill bottles to replenish built-in reservoirs rather than relying as often on replacement cartridges. Their ongoing ink costs can be lower, while the printer may cost more upfront. Whether that trade-off pays off depends on your print volume, the black-and-color mix, supply prices, printer price, reliability, and how regularly you print. HP’s comparison uses selected HP Smart Tank and cartridge-printer examples; its figures should not be assumed to apply to other brands or models. HP’s model-specific cost comparison discusses the trade-off.
To compare ownership cost over the period you expect to keep a printer, estimate:
Estimated total ownership cost = printer price + expected ink or cartridge costs.
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A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11Make the assumptions explicit: how many pages you print each month, how often they are color, whether they are mostly text or image-heavy, the compatible supply’s rated yield, and whether you would use an ink subscription. Rated-yield arithmetic cannot fully account for setup and maintenance ink or predict every household’s use.
How should you compare printer and ink options?
- Check compatibility first. Match the exact printer model to its cartridge number or refill ink before comparing prices.
- Compare supply cost per rated page. Use the compatible supply’s current price and stated yield, treating the result as an estimate.
- Estimate your real usage. Include monthly page volume, color needs, image coverage, and whether you print regularly or in occasional bursts.
- Include the printer’s price. A tank system’s lower ongoing ink cost may or may not offset a higher upfront cost at your expected volume.
- Check any plan’s terms. For a subscription, verify current eligibility, page allowances, cartridge compatibility, price, and cancellation terms before signing up.
There is no reliable universal current price-per-page figure for every brand and printer. Prices, yields, models, and actual use vary, so use the calculation to compare options for your own printer and printing habits rather than treating it as a market-wide answer.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
